Anonymous wades into Japan's anti-whaling battle

A Japanese man shouts slogans towards people participating in a march against the killing of Taiji dolphins and research whaling in Tokyo Japan 24 November 2012. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON

Anonymous is calling for a collective protest against the Japanese tradition of whale and dolphin hunting. The group is threatening to attack 22 Japanese websites, including those of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

There is also a day of action planned on December 1. Activists are using #OpKillingBay and #ShutTaijiDown to demand an end to the practice in the whaling town of Taiji, which was made infamous by the Oscar-winning documentary "The Cove".

The Japanese government has defended its position, claiming that it captures whales only for research:

We are rather concerned that certain NGOs and the media are spreading misinformation on this issue to the public to provoke an emotional reaction against our activities which could make dialogue difficult. For example, this activity is not commercial whaling (although some NGOs have stated differently). The research employs both lethal and non-lethal research methods and is carefully designed by scientists to study the whale populations and ecological roles of the species. We limit the sample to the lowest possible number, which will still allow the research to derive meaningful scientific results. The research plan and its results are annually reviewed by the IWC Scientific Committee.mofa.go.jp

Taiji is currently the focus of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which has traveled to the town to live-stream video of the cove. They are also tweeting about the situation from the account @CoveGuardians.

Thanks to AnonOps India for alerting us to the story via Facebook.

Dear editors at AlJazeera. Kindly provide indepth coverage on the slaughter of dolphins in Taiji, Japan. Media silence on this issue strengthens the brutality. The CoveGuardians keep documenting the killings EVERYDAY, something which the media has never bothered to do. Just today, a dozen Risso dolphins were killed at the Cove. I urge you to cover this story!#OpKillingBayAnonOps India